Google Overhauls Its Home Media App

Google today released a new version of Google Home, the mobile app smartphone owners use to interact with their Google Home speaker and Chromecast dongles. Google says the revised application should make it easier to find content to share with connected speakers and television sets. To start, the app has been given a full visual makeover that Google claims is more intuitive. It now recommends content from all the user’s connected media services, such as Spotify or Netflix, so music and movies are simpler to start streaming. Search has been improved and can now handle keyword searches based on actor, artist, genre, or category. Google Home can now be used to cast movie trailers to a connected TV. Last, the app gives people more control over their entire viewing and listening experience. For example, the redesigned controllers give people the ability to tweak bass or treble on supported speakers, including the Google Home device. The Google Home companion app is free to download from the Play Store.